We're pleased to introduce Chad Webster, author of a fun, mysterious, and family-friendly new middle-grade novel, Mystery Muffin & Soda Pop Slooth: The Legend of Mr. Creepy. Chad brings a unique aspect to his writing with true subject-matter-expertise--he's also a Charlotte police officer. Chad's upcoming novel is the story of two best friends living in a charming little town where absolutely nothing ever happens . . . until a creepy new neighbor moves in a few houses down that everyone believes is a werewolf!​

​Chad grew up in New York and began his love of writing in grade school. After moving to Charlotte, he began his police career which inspired his work on Mystery Muffin.

​We recently spoke to Chad about his work and about Mystery Muffin & Soda Pop Slooth.

​IngramElliott (IE): Please tell us something about yourself and how you came to be a writer. What inspired you to write your book?Chad Webster (CW): I always enjoyed writing assignments as a kid, making things up, and making people laugh. I dreamed of becoming a published writer. Being a cop, I enjoy mysteries and love Scooby-Doo. It's very neat to create a character and watch them grow and take you places you didn't know you'd go. When you start out, you think you're in control of them. Then you realize they almost control you! I had the idea for Mystery Muffin nearly five years ago. One summer I decided it was time to get writing.

​IE: Tell us a little about your book’s title and what it represents?CW: "The Legend of Mr. Creepy" tells us there's a back story here--some information, fact or fiction, about this guy and we want to get to the bottom of it. Mystery and Soda eventually come to find out that not everything is exactly as it appears . . . but sometimes they're exactly that.

IE: What is the primary message you hope to share with readers?CW: I hope after reading my book that people will feel that children are capable of great things, that family is so important in this life, and that they'll want to read my next book!

IE: What do you think makes your characters believable?CW: When creating characters, I think about the people that I've met in life. I think about those I love, admire, hate, and am intrigued by. We all have these kinds of people in our lives and readers can connect to that.

IE: Why should we buy your book?CW: It's good, clean, family fun that keeps readers guessing and shows us how vital kids are and how much they can accomplish.

IE: Who is your first reader?CW: My wife, my Wubby, Krista. No one sees what I write until she does.

​​Mystery Muffin is Chad's first novel. It will be published by IngramElliott in 2017.